Members of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Legislature met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of consolidating the local jails.
Jail Management Superintendent Thomas Diina proposed that low- and medium-risk inmates be transferred from the Erie County Holding Center to the county’s correctional facility in Alden. This would free up the Holding Center for intake and pre-release transitional services.
In 2015, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority stopped transportation to the correctional facility. Peaceprints of Western New York Executive Director Cindi McEachon questioned the accessibility to inmates for families and lawyers if most were moved to Alden.
Sheriff's Office administrators are looking to either restore the NFTA route or find alternative transportation.
Diina emphasized at the meeting that this entire concept is a long way from being finalized.
